A man drinks water while walking on a road in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 07, 2013. Hangzhou City saw its highest temperature on Wednesday reaching 41.2 degrees Celsius, hitting a record high. Photo: Xinhua

Shanghai, China's commercial capital, on Wednesday experienced its hottest day in at least 140 years, with temperatures of 40.8 degrees Celsius, breaking the record of 40.6 degrees Celsius set on July 26.

Xinhua, China's official news agency, reports that Wednesday marked the most sweltering point since the business hub's meteorological records began 140 years ago, according to the city's meteorological centre.

So far this summer, the city has had 33 days of high temperatures, including 19 days with temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius or above, and three days of temperatures higher than 40 degrees Celsius.

Weather forecasters said the hot weather will continue in Shanghai, with temperatures of about 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday.

Prolonged scorching weather has swept many parts of east and central China. Heatstroke has left at least 10 people dead in Shanghai. Central China's Hunan Province and southwestern Chongqing Municipality have each reported three deaths from the condition.

Chinese meteorologists have attributed the extremely hot weather to a number of factors, including strong, stable subtropical high pressure, the absence of typhoons and global warming.

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